Indicator.



No. 634,485. Patented Oct. I0, 1899.

T. A. TRIBBLE.

INDICATOR.

(Applibiiion flhd lab. 18, 1899.)

(I10 Model.)

WITNESSES:

w V V cam wax/4, 71444 UNITED STAT S,

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. TRIBBLE, BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.634,485, dated October10, 1899.

Application filed February 16,1899. $erial No. 705,644. (No model.)

' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIndicators, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in whichsimilarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to improvements in indicators for use of businessand professional men as a means for notifying clients or customers oftheir movements at times when their offices are temporarily closed; andthe object of the invention is to provide a device of this class whichis so constructed as to be easily read from the outside of a doorwaywhen it is in position on the inside of a frosted or ground glass door.

By the use of this invention all danger of having the device tamperedwith from the outside is obviated, and it is simple in construction,durable, and inexpensive.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically setforth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a front elevation of a door, taken from the outside and having myimproved indicator attached to the inside surface thereof. Fig. 2 is aface view of the indicator, illustrated upon an enlarged scale; and Fig.3 isa sectional plan view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In the practice of my invention I employ,

primarily,

preferably, of mica; but transparent glass may be employed, if desired.This said plate is marked with numerals toform a clockdial, and ordinaryclock-hands B and B are secured centrally upon the back surface thereofby means of a suitable spindle b. The said plate A is secured within aframe 0, comprising the back and front sections 0 and 0', each sectionhaving a circular opening 0 leading therethrough, and the said openingsexactly register with each other to permit rays of light to strikethrough the transparent plate A. The frame C is composed of pasteboardor other suitable opaque material, and it is supplied at its upper edgewith a string ema transparent plate A, composed,

ployed as a means for suspending the device from a nail or book D,attached to the inner surface of the door.

In'the' use of the device the same is suspended with its face toward theinner surface ofthe ground-glass panel 6 of the doorE, and the hands ofthe clock are set at any arbitrarily-selected time or hour to indicatethe time that the user will return to his office,

and the face ofthe plate A is provided with a suitable printedannouncement ct, such as Back at or Return at. After the hands areproperly set the opaque portions of the device, together with thepainted inscription thereon, will cast a shadow upon the frosted or ground glass panel, which is distinctly visi ble from the outside, wherebythe customers or clients of the person using the device can readilydetermine the time of his return, and owing to the position ofthe'device, which is located behind a closed and locked door, it isobviou sthat mischievous persons cannot tamper therewith and change therelative posi tion of the indicating-hands.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. As an indicating device'adapted for use behind a ground or frostedglass door-panel, the combination of a transparent dial, opaque handsand opaque markings thereon, with an opaque framework surrounding thesame,

substantially as shown and described.

' 2. As an indicator for use behind a frosted or ground glassdoor-panel, the combination of a transparent plate having clock-handslocated centrallythereof and a clock-dial and an announcement paintedthereon, and an opaque frame with a central opening there= throughsurrounding the said dial, and means for suspending the device from theframe= work of a door, substantially as shown and de scribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing asmy invention 1 have signedmyname, in pres= ence of two witnesses, this Qth'day of Febru-- Witnesses:I

JOHN T. LILLARD, Lnnov G. WHITNIER.

